Hair styling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member which defines a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member which defines a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and second hair clamping surfaces are opposite facing and are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped there-between during use, wherein the apparatus comprises a third hair styling surface which is to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair styling apparatus, and more particularly to hair clamps.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Hair styling apparatus are widely used at homes and professional shops for styling hair. Hair clamps are a common type of hair styling apparatus that is commonly used to impart styling to hair by application of heat and pressure. Hair curling clamps and hair straightening clamps are the more common types of hair clamps.

A typical hair straightening hair comprises a pair of hair straightening members having opposite facing flat straightening surfaces which are adapted to straighten hair by heat and pressure when the pair of hair straightening members is closed. On the other hand, a hair curling clamp usually comprises a heated pair of hair curling members having complementarily curved hair styling surfaces to impart curvature to hair. As the curvature of each pair of hair curling members is usually fixed, a number of hair curling clamps is required when different hair curls of different curvatures are desired.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is disclosed a hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member which defines a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member which defines a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and second hair clamping surfaces are opposite facing and are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped there-between during use. The first and the second hair clamping surfaces may be hair straightening surfaces or complementary hair curling surfaces.

The apparatus may comprise a third hair styling surface which is to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use. The third hair styling surface may be heated by the same heat source as that heat the clamped hair. Therefore, the heat which heats the third styling surface may be the same heat which heats the clamped hair. The third hair styling surface may be an integral part of the first clamping member or the second clamping member. For example, the third hair styling surface may be defined on a side of a hair clamping member through which clamped hair enters into or exit from the apparatus.

The apparatus is advantageous because a single apparatus can operable selectively as a hair straightening clamp or a hair curling clamp, or as a hair curling clamp having selectable curling curvatures.

The hair curling edge may be integrally formed on a corner edge of at least one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces to define the third hair styling surface. The corner edge may be on a side through which hair enters or exits from the hair clamping surfaces which are clamped together during use. The corner edge would be the one that is most proximal to the other one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces.

The plurality of indentations to receive hair may be integrally formed on and distributed along the length of the hair curling edge, and the indentations are distributed to receive hair such that heat and curling tension can be imparted by the curling edge to hair entering or emerging from the first and the second hair clamping surfaces during use. In one example, the first clamping member is mounted on a first elongate arm and the second clamping member is mounted on a second elongate arm. The first and second elongate arms extend along a longitudinal axis and are hinge joined at a hinge axis such that the first and second clamping members are moveable towards each other about the hinge axis between a closed position at which hair is clamped between the hair clamping surfaces and an open position at which hair is not clamped, and wherein the hair curling edge is or the hair curling edges are parallel to the longitudinal axis.

The hair curling edge or hair curling edges may be serrated. The curling edges may be formed on both sides of a hair clamping surface, and/or on both hair clamping members. The serration on adjacent hair curling edges of the first and the second hair clamping members may be aligned when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position such that protrusions and indentations on the hair curling edges are respectively aligned in an overlapping manner.

Serrated hair curling edges may be formed on both the first and the second hair clamping members, and the hair curling edges are exposed when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position.

In an example, there is disclosed a hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member defining a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member defining a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and the second hair clamping surfaces are adapted to cooperatively apply heat and pressure to hair clamped there-between during use; and wherein an serrated edge is formed on at least one of the first and the second hair clamping surfaces, and a plurality of projections which defines a plurality of indentations is distributed along the length of the serrated edge, the plurality of indentations being adapted to impart heat and curling tension to hair emerging from the first and the second hair clamping surfaces during use.

The serrated edge provides a convenient means to facilitate hair curling by using an edge of a hair clamping surface. As hair will be distributed into the plurality of indentations distributed along the length of the serrated edge automatically upon closing in of the hair clamping members, a more distributed or even curling of hair will result. To make the distribution of hair along the length of the serrated edge more efficiently, the hair clamping surfaces may be coated with a slippery surface such as a PFTE coating.

When the serrated edge is formed on a hair styling apparatus having a pair of hair straightening clamping surfaces (also known as hair straightening clamp), a hair straightening clamp having an optional hair curling edge is provided.

When the serrated edge adapted for curling hair is formed on a hair styling apparatus having a pair of complementary hair curling clamping surfaces (also known as hair curling clamp), a hair curling clamp having a plurality of curvatures selectable by a user is provided. As an edge of a hair styling surface has a relatively small radius of curvature, more significant curling effects can be produced by edge curling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Examples of hair styling apparatus will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair clamp with clamp arms in a closed configuration,

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are respectively a side, top, bottom and front elevation views of the hair clamp of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hair clamp with clamp arms in an opened configuration,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the hair clamp of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a hair styling member of the hair clamp of FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 5, 5A are a perspective view of the hair styling member of FIG. 4 and an enlarged view of a portion of its lateral edge in a circle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A hair clamp 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an example of a hair styling apparatus comprises a first clamp arm 120 and a second clamp arm 140 which are interconnected by a hinge joint 160 at one extreme end. Each of the first and second clamp arms 120,140 comprises an elongate clamp arm housing 122, 142 which is moulded of hard plastics such as polycarbonate and defines a hollow elongate compartment 124,144. The elongate clamp arm housing 122 of the first clamp arm 120 and the elongate clamp arm housing 142 of the second clamp arm 140 are generally in mirror symmetry about a hinge axis of the hinged joint 160. Each of the outer portions of the elongate clamp arm housings near the hinged end is adapted to form part of a hand-grip portion of the hair clamp and is convexly curved. When the first and second clamps arms are closed and press against each other during hair styling use, the outer portions collectively form a rounded hand-grip for palm holding by a user. To provide a rounded hand-grip portion for ergonomic operation, the cross-section of each the elongate clamp arm housing near the hinged end is generally semi-circular or semi-elliptical and defines an elongate cavity for passage of power cable and for mounting of electronic circuitry and components for operation of the electric heating elements.

A hair styling assembly is mounted on each of the elongate clamp arm housings 122, 142 at an end distal from the hinged joint 160, and the hair styling assemblies on the first and second clamp arms are equidistant from the hinged joint such that the hair styling surfaces of the hair styling assemblies will press against each other to facilitate styling of hair engaged or clamped between the hair styling assemblies during use when the clamp arms are closed as shown in FIG. 1.

Each hair styling assembly comprises a hair styling member 126, 146, an electric heating assembly and an insulation base. Each styling member includes an anodized aluminum styling plate which defines a hair straightening surface as an example of a hair styling surface 128, 148. The aluminum styling plate is substantially rectangular with hair curling edges formed on the elongate edges on the laterals sides of the longitudinal axis of the aluminum plate. As the hair straightening surface 128, 148 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate clamp arm housing on which the aluminum plate is mounted, each of the elongate hair curling edges 130, 150 is also parallel to that longitudinal axis, and that longitudinal axis of the elongate clamp arm housing is orthogonal to the hinge axis.

To facilitate heating of the hair styling surfaces 128, 148, a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) element 156 as an example of an electric heating assembly is disposed underneath the styling plate and mounted in contact therewith to facilitate good thermal conduction. The assembly comprising the PTC element 156, the hair styling member 126, 146, and the insulation base is mounted on the front portion of the elongate clamp arm housing, with the insulation base intermediate the elongate clamp arm housing 122, 142 and the hair styling member 126, 146.

The insulation base comprises a base member 158 which is adapted to receive a sub-assembly comprising the PTC element 156 and the hair styling member 124, 146 on one surface and which is adapted to be mounted on the elongate clamp arm housing on the other, opposite, surface. The portion of the base member 158 which is in contact with the elongate clamp arm housing is insulated by a thermal insulator such as silicon rubber. The base member may comprise a ceramic or polycarbonate member to provide additional thermal insulation between the heated hair styling member and the elongate clamp arm housing. A rotary switch is mounted on the portion of the second clamp arm housing intermediate the hair styling member and the hinged joint to turn on or off the apparatus as well as for setting an operation temperature.

Each hair styling plate comprises a substantially flat hair straightening surface. The hair straightening which is adapted to cooperate with the counterpart hair straightening surface to straighten hair when the first and second clamp arms are closed. Each lateral edge of the hair styling plate is serrated and comprises a plurality of notches distributed along the length of the edge. The plurality of notches is distributed such that a plurality of hair receiving indentations is formed along the length of the hair styling surface edge. The edge of each hair engaging indentation which extends parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the hair styling surface is smooth to mitigate breaking stress on hair. The edges of the hair engaging indentation collectively define the outline of the plurality of notches for edge styling of hair to be explained. In addition, the edge of the hair styling surface which defines the orthogonal outline of each indentation is chamfered or rounded, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A.

The outer portion of the elongate clamp arm housing 122, 142, at and end distal from the hinge or immediately above or below a hair styling member is formed with a plurality of ridges. Each of the ridges extends in a direction which is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongate arm, and adjacent ridges are spaced apart to form another set of indentions for setting hair exiting from the curling edges when desirable by a user.

In use, a bundle of hair is introduced transversely into the space between the two hair clamping members after the hair clamp has been switched on to an operational mode so that the heating elements are in operation. The expression transversely here means a direction which is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongate clamp arm. The clamp arms are closed after the bundle of hair has been introduced, and closure motion of the clamp arms will cause the bundle of hair to spread out and distribute along the length of the elongate hair styling surface due to the closing in of the hair styling members. A user will then turn or twist the hair clamp about its longitudinal axis while drawing the hair clamp towards the free end of the hair, thereby imparting curling heat and pressure to hair emerging form the hair clamping members.

In the above example, both elongate edges on each of the first and second hair styling members are serrated, with the projections and indentations on corresponding sides of the first and second hair styling members aligned such that a projection on one styling member is aligned with a projection on the other styling member, thereby forming a plurality of curling notched distributed along the length of the hair clamp.

In this example, the hair styling members 126, 146 are examples illustrating first and second hair clamping members which are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped between them during use. Each of the lateral or elongate edges of the hair styling members 126, 146 is an example of a third styling surface which is to be used to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use. While all the edges on each of the hair styling members 126, 146 can be a third hair styling surface, it will be appreciated that only one third hair styling surface may be sufficient to provide secondary hair curling,

In one example, a serrated edge may be formed on only one elongate lateral side of one styling member. In one example, serrated edges are formed on both lateral sides of one styling member. This facilitates forming curls with opposite curvatures selectable by a user depending on the rotation of the hair clamp. In addition, this also facilitates ergonomic use by both a left-handed user and a right-handed user with comfort. In another example, serrated edges may be formed on the elongate lateral sides of both styling members, (that is one on the first styling member and the other serrated edge on the second styling member), but on opposite sides (that is, one on the left side of the centre longitudinal axis of the clamp arm and the other on the right side of the centre longitudinal axis of the clamp arm). Such an arrangement provides further convenience and flexibility.

Where serrated edges are disposed on the two hair styling members, a user can select to curl hair by either one of the curling styling members, depending on the direction of rotation of the hair clamp.

While examples have been described above with reference to a hair clamp above and it variations, it will be appreciated that the example is merely provided to assist understanding and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter. For example, while the hair styling surface of the hair clamp is a hair straightening surface, it will be appreciated that the hair styling surfaces can be complementarily curved with serrations extending tangentially from the curved hair styling surface. For example, while a hair clamp having a pair of hair styling members for hair straightening on closure has described as an example, the hair clamp may comprise a pair of complementary hair curling surfaces adapted for hair curling. Where a hair clamp is a hair curler having a pair of hair styling members defining a complementary pair of hair curling surfaces, the dispositions of serrated edges above also applies mutatis mutandis.

In another example, where the hair clamp is a hair curler of the hair iron type having a single arm such that one hair styling member is fixedly mounted on a handle housing while the other hair styling member is hingedly mounted on the handle housing and hingedly moveable about a hinge axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle portion, serrated teeth formed on the hair styling member proximal the handle housing will facilitate curling of hair to curl in a direction which his a continuation of the curvature of the hair curling member proximal the handle housing, albeit with a smaller radius of curvature for sharper curls. On the other hand, serrated teeth formed on the other, hingedly connected, hair styling member distal from the handle housing will facilitate curling of hair to curl in an opposite direction.

Table of numerals 120 1^(st) clamp arm 122 1^(st) clamp arm housing 124 1^(st) clamp arm compartment 126 1^(st) styling member 128 1^(st) styling surface 130 1^(st) serrated edge 132 1^(st) clamp arm compartment 140 2^(nd) clamp arm 142 2^(nd) clamp arm housing 144 2^(nd) clamp arm compartment 146 2^(nd) styling member 148 2^(nd) styling surface 150 2^(nd) serrated edge 154 2^(nd) clamp arm compartment 156 PTC element 158 Base member 160 hinged joint 

1. A hair styling apparatus comprising a first hair clamping member which defines a first hair clamping surface and a second hair clamping member which defines a second hair clamping surface, wherein the first and second hair clamping surfaces are opposite facing and are to cooperate to apply heat and clamping pressure to style hair clamped there-between during use, wherein the apparatus comprises a third hair styling surface which is to curl hair by heat and by a curling tension applied by a user against the third hair styling surface during use.
 2. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second hair clamping surfaces are hair straightening surfaces or complementary hair curling surfaces, and a hair curling edge is integrally formed on a corner edge of at least one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces to define the third hair styling surface, the corner edge being on a side through which hair enters or exits from the hair clamping surfaces which are clamped together during use; and wherein the corner edge is one that is most proximal to the other one of the first or the second hair clamping surfaces.
 3. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of indentations to receive hair is integrally formed on and distributed along the length of the hair curling edge, and the indentations are distributed to receive hair such that heat and curling tension can be imparted by the curling edge to hair entering or emerging from the first and the second hair clamping surfaces during use.
 4. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each said indentation comprises a concave edge portion, and adjacent indentations are joined by a tooth portion which protrudes in a direction that is parallel to the hair clamping surface of the hair clamping member on which the tooth is formed.
 5. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tooth portion is flush with its associated hair clamping surface.
 6. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the projection of the tooth portion from the edge of its associated concave edge portion does not exceed the radius of curvature of the concave edge portion.
 7. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the concave edge portion cuts through its associated hair clamping member.
 8. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the concave edge portion intersects its associated hair clamping surface and its associated hair clamping member to form a hair curving portion, the hair curving portion defining a hair curving curvature which extends in a direction that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the associated hair clamping surface.
 9. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hair curling edge is serrated.
 10. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second hair clamping surfaces are complementary hair curling surfaces defining a first hair curing curvature, and the hair curling edge defines a second hair curling curvature; and wherein the radius of curvature of the second curling curvature is substantially smaller than the radius of curvature of the first curling curvature.
 11. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first clamping member is mounted on a first elongate arm and the second clamping member is mounted on a second elongate arm, wherein the first and second elongate arms extend along a longitudinal axis and are hinge joined at a hinge axis such that the first and second clamping members are moveable towards each other about the hinge axis between a closed position at which hair is clamped between the hair clamping surfaces and an open position at which hair is not clamped, and wherein the hair curling edge is or the hair curling edges are parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 12. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hair curling edges are serrated and formed on both sides of a hair clamping surface and/or on both hair clamping members, and the serration on adjacent hair curling edges of the first and the second hair clamping members are aligned when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position such that protrusions and indentations on the hair curling edges are respectively aligned in an overlapping manner.
 13. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein serrated hair curling edges are formed on both the first and the second hair clamping members, and the hair curling edges are exposed when the first and the second clamping members are in the closed position.
 14. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the hair curling edge is or the hair curling edges are extending in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis and the hair clamping surfaces are parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 15. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the first and the second clamping members is mounted on a base portion, and the hair curling edge overhangs its associated base portion.
 16. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein electric heating elements are mounted inside the base portion, and the base portion is an integral part of the hair clamping member.
 17. A hair styling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the electric heating elements are mounted for contact heating the first clamping surface, the base portion is mounted on a plastic housing portion of the first elongate arm, and a thermal insulating layer is disposed intermediate the plastic housing portion and the first clamping member to insulate heat transfer from the first clamping surface to the first elongate arm. 